Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Welcome to the Winnipeg RASC!

Welcome to the homepage of the Winnipeg chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada! We are a national, non-profit entity dedicated to the advancement of astronomy and its related sciences. Our organization exists to promote the advancement of astronomy and its allied sciences, as well as to increase awareness of astronomy as an enjoyable hobby and as an important scientific endeavour.

The RASC carries out this mandate through a variety of means. We hold monthly meetings and observing events that are open to the public, as well as various public outreach programs through schools and other educational facilities. Whether you’ve just peeked into a scope for the first time and have the itch to learn more, or you’ve established yourself in the hobby and want to gather with like-minded individuals, our group will certainly have something for you.

Monthly Meetings & Beginner’s Sessions

Every second Friday of the month, we host a monthly gathering. They are free and open for all to attend, and are located in the Robert Schultz Lecture Theatre at St. John's College in the U of M.

Meetings start at 7pm with our Beginner's talk, which are designed for novice astronomers who are just beginning in the hobby, and are a great way to learn the fundamentals of our cosmos, on top of ways to most effectively observe them as a beginner. Then, we have updates on the latest astronomical news, and also discuss what is up to observe in the night sky that month. The main talk typically runs from 9pm to 10pm, where we have a variety of guest speakers who share their knowledge and expertise of astronomy.

Educational Outreach

Astronomy has been proven to be a fantastic way to get students engaged in the classroom. Where does elemental matter come from? Are there other planets with life? How do we get out there? The awesome machinations of how our universe works stimulates the mind’s curiosity, and there is no part of modern science where astronomy doesn’t have a relevant stake. From physics and chemistry to biology and the arts, astronomy can be used as an effective tool to stoke the imagination.

The National RASC page also has a number of resources available for teachers, parents, or anyone else looking to educate others in the basics of astronomy. Available are a number of curriculum aids from the RASC, as well as other institutions such as the CSA and CASCA.

Public Observing

While getting started in stargazing is as simple as going out on a clear night and looking up, it can feel daunting if you don’t have a place to start. Also, many people would like to look at and learn about certain deep-sky objects, solar or interstellar phenomena, but may not have the specialized equipment that might be needed to view it. Fortunately, our members are passionate about the astronomical sciences, and are eager to spread this knowledge as far and wide as possible to any who are willing to listen.

We do a number of public observing events throughout the year, mainly to coincide with particular astronomical events or dates such as the International Day of Astronomy. If you’re watching the news and hear about an eclipse coming by or a comet on the loose, chances are we’ve got a public observing event lined up. Just keep an eye on our events page if you’d like to drop on by.